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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 8:28:13 GMT
« Thread started on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:34pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palishol Feraemar Alannara
April 25-26, 2008
With the increasing depridations of the Nobles along the edges of the lands held by those of the rebels, as well as the incursions against the dwarves, one of the higher ranking of the Grey Elf archers began to become concerned. It was initially agreed by the council that had sent him and his band that they could keep an eye on the Rebel forces, using them, in their way, as a buffer force between the Corrupt Nobles, who were ever pushing on the edges of the lands of the non-humans, and the Elves. It was a loose confederation, at the moment, between the small elven community that had chosen to assist the rebels due to location, yet under the circumstances, it might be needful to bring this to the attention of the council of the United Elven Community. Particularly as the Corrupt Nobles continued in their attempts to press into the lands of the non-humans. Granted, at the moment they were focusing on the dwarves, due to the riches and metals that were to be found under their mountainous homes, but it would not be long before the human eyes would once more turn to the wealth of wood of the forest. Forest that was becoming decreasingly smaller as the Corrupt Nobles continued their push to encompass more land. With this in mind, Rhy-aer Teasen'atear had approached General Lasheea and started negotiating with her in regards to the possibility of meeting with someone from the Council. With this also in mind, he had sent runners to the wood, with hopes of gaining council approval. Weeks had passed and now it found them on the road, near to the wood, General Lasheea upon her warsteed, armed, armored and fully blindfolded as her mount was led to the place of conclave.
Leaves Crunched softly beneath shod hooves, as Feraemar and his small vangaurd moved with luxuriant pace beneath the canopy of the forest. Brushing a stray beetle from his shoulder Fera looked about him, his move simple and smooth as he spoke to one of his traveling companions. " Keep watch, this may be another OutterWood." OutterWood having been a settlement far to the east, a small community with little to offer in exchange for treaty. The United Elven Community would have embraced them had they nothing for the sake of their nearness to the border of the corrupted lands otherwise known as Everwinter, but that community had set a trap that cost those people their lives. Riding on Fera lightly touched upon his leg, his pinky and ring finger extending as he spotted the movement of horses ahead, the trail they took hadn't caused signs of their arrival before him. The remains of the Vangaurd and himself slowed their pace while 7 of the 13 moved their way more swiftly towards the travelers. This route led to no other settlements he knew of, and he knew the maps very well, this was paticularly disconcerting considering one seemed to be a daughter of Chorster.
Nara sat lightly upon her warsteed, who was not exactly taking kindly to being led and was dancing against the lead from the elf before it. Though blindfolded, her hands were free and she leaned forward, patting the geldings neck and murmuring soothingly to the animal. While she understood the necessity of the blindfold and did nothing to remove it from her eyes, it made her uncomfortable to be so...helpless, in a manner of speaking. With this in mind, she kept her ears sharp, listening to the barely audible sounds of the elves passing through the wood, her horse making far more noise as they led her deeper, than their silent footfalls did. Before long, they finally halted and one of the elves came to her mount's side and assisted her in dismounting. Once on the ground, her eyes were freed from the confines of the binding and she found herself in a small clearing, a small brook to one side, babbling softly as it tripped and danced over the rocks that lined it's bed. A delicate brow lifted as she took in her surroundings, the wind softly whispering through the trees that surrounded the clearing. The sun, soft with spring, gently warmed the glade, the new grasses gleaming greenly as only that of new growth can achieve. Overhead could be heard the calls of birds as the males sang and tried to entice females to them. Nara was a bit surprised as she continued to look about her. When Rhy had approached her, she had thought that she would be taken to an elven village, not to a secluded glade. It had been hard enough convincing Adrian, Reaver and the other commanders to agree to the terms that one of them had to come alone and her lips twitched as she recalled Rhys stating it should be her, as she was female. As if the female of any species could not be as deadly as any other. Still, from what she'd seen of elven maids, they did tend to go more towards the 'gentler' aspects. Such as Lea and her healing. One of the elves led her mount to the brook, letting the gelding drink, before tethering him to a bush to graze. Turning her attention to Rhy, Nara smiled at him, though her eyes were seriously intent. "Is this a break to rest, Rhy or are we to meet your delegation here?" she asked him quietly, then paused as she noticed him stiffen and look towards the wood.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 8:32:17 GMT
« Reply #1 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:35pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fera himself looked to the sprigs of nature, his call shrill and carrying sounding very much like that of a screech owl. Moving his soft grey steed off the trail he slid into the woods surrounding the small grove they'd appointed. The other 7 moved swiftly now, horses almost charging in unison as 3 slid into the edge of the clearing along the path, bows still tucked within reach near the saddlehorn, quiver at bare near the leg of each rider allowing ease of access to the arrows, the other 4 made it less then evident they were moving within the woods to the north of the clearing, their horses making the only noise as arrows were notched and left at ready.
The three visable to the untrained eye were identical in uniform, though gender differed with one from the other two being she was female, the uniform itself consisted of soft gray color, embroidered and inlayed with lighter grey leaves and vinework. Swords hung at their sides, within reach of the saddlehorn with the slightest of motions, each bearing the simple fashion of roses upon the hilt and sheath, each matching the vinework of their jackets. Fera himself finally emerged from the south, his steed making almost no sound over the leaves as he melted from the serenity of the forest into the soft light of the clearing. His hair hung long, slightly braided at the ends of the strands which hung over his shoulders and down his chest.
Dark oaken brown in color, almost black really, contrasting with the soft off white of his jacket, embroidered much the same as those holding to the path into the clearing. His sword hung at his side as well, it's intricate pattern much more ornate but no less deadly as the others, the sheath curving only slightly to accomadate the blade within. Stopping at the clearings edge he watched with chestnut eyes, fingers unmoving from rein or buckle as he sat there like a statue taking in his surroundings and peace and silence. His vangaurd would shortly make themselves unavoidable to escape or enterance as his simple call and gesture had dictated.
Nara watched, her gaze admiring, as the elven horsemen charged into the clearing, then slowed their steeds before entering. She could hear the sounds of other horses moving through the woods and nodded slightly, understanding the Elves need to secure the area. After all, she was human, upon Elven lands, something that had not been seen in generations, not since the beginning of the war that the Nobles had started against the non-humans. Were they, the rebels, not just as cautious as she knew these beings to be. Her admiring gaze took in the dress and slender beauty of the elves, before moving towards the mounts, her horseman's hands itching to travel over the lines of the horses. Oh, how her father and brothers would love to see mounts of such grace and stature! As Fera entered the clearing, she turned her gaze to him, standing taller as he and his horse entered the clearing, then stood, still as stone, the sun shining down through the trees, dappling them with light. She let her gaze move over him lightly, taking in the rich cut and design of his clothing, also seeing how it was made so that he could fight freely, for all its beauty. There was an air of strength about him, an air of nobility, one she could almost sense. She, herself, stood proudly next to where she waited with Rhy, clad in simple black leather armor, the only color about her being the crimson lining of the cloak she wore clasped at her shoulders, the hilt of the two handed sword she used visible over her right shoulder, the hilt of a long knife at her hip. She had been surprised when Rhy had allowed her to keep her weapons, but assumed nothing, for it could be a test in its own. She made no move towards either weapon, keeping her dark eyes locked on the Elven Lord, for that was all he could be, her dark hair bound, yet flowing down her back.
Rhy stepped away from her and made his way towards Fera, bowing deeply at him. "Kaerol tolys, Feraemar. Shi sal o thys tystol ail os cys os baer. Sor air si shysal os si vaerdaer, Kaelaesar Alannara Lasheea, shai car tysti sai saer shor o." (Greetings milord, Feramar. We thank you for coming in our hour of need. This is the woman of the rebels, General Alannara Lasheea, who has come to treat with you.)
As he was approuched he watched Rhy's eyes, his facial expressions and most of all his movements. Lifting his eyes to the daughter of Chorster, or General Alannara Lasheea as he'd been told, he took in her warrior's garb and weaponry. He found it compelling really how they'd made armor both form fitting as their own and yet made it so unappealing to the eye. Looking once more to Rhy he slid down his saddle slowly, his leg hooking around, stepping down the from the stirrup rather then slipping down from it. Stepping forward he dropped the reigns in front of his mount patting it lightly upon the neck, his eyes traveling over the flanks and neck before acknowledging anyone else around him again. Turning almost militarily in style, a crisp decisive step bringing him squared with Rhy once more, he made a fist punching it forcefully into the palm of his left hand. Folding his fingers down before his chest he covered the fist from view to Rhy as he gave the slightest of bows though holding eye contact entirely. Speaking with only slightest hint of disdain for the action he spoke in common, his words crisp and articulated almost without accent, " May winter never befall your house or kingdom Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear, and may your house be enlightened to speak in the language of ones guest to comfort them." Moving as if not even avoiding Rhy while at the same time moving around him as if he were cast of his eyes looked to Alannara's own, standing at a rigid stance as again he gave the bow unto her," I am Feraemar Aleanghymn, it is an unseen grace to have a Daughter of Chorster within our lands, may it not bring winter to these lands or this glade." Resting once more his thumb upon his belt buckle his other brushed back one of the strands of hair, if she were observant she'd note along the shoulders snowflakes embroidered in silver, though there were spaces showing that this was more then design, this was a count, the leaves upon the front of his jacket looking as if they might be as well for their spacing was of a simular fashion flowing down the front of him, though in his opinion he was thankful the leaves were a much greater number then the flakes.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 8:33:00 GMT
« Reply #2 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:35pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Quietly watching the exchange, her muscles tense, though her stance didn't show signs of it, she waited until Rhy and the Elven Lord had spoken, watching their manner and taking in every nuance of every move and gesture. As he approached her and spoke, his voice, like those of most of the Elven race, soft and musical, she allowed a slight smile to touch her lips, though a delicate brow raised as he called her a Daughter of Chorster. Nara, not having the length of life as the Elves, nor the knowledge of Adamire Chorster's history, thought the elf spoke of the line of Chorster. She didn't reply immediately, letting her eyes skim over him, taking in the embroidered snowflakes on his shoulders, the vines and the roses and then spoke with quiet dignity. "A Daughter of Chorster?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice. "I fear not and I fear that there are humans who would take their being aligned with that fell Lord amiss, milord Aleanghymn, though, considering our land's history, I can see why you have aligned us all with that fell Lord." She listened carefully to his words regarding winter and sighed softly. "I fear that winter comes to all lands, whether we wish it or not," she added, hoping she understood the meaning behind the words. "Dark clouds gather, as magics most foul and fell are used to bring 'order' into the hands of Lord Adamire Chorster. Already his hand has been laid upon one of your race, a most fell curse, she who is our healer. We know not yet what the outcome of such an event will be."
Feraemar remained silent at her words, replaying her words in his mind as he watched for any ticks or reactions he'd seen in the past from humans. Blinking slowly he nodded, " While winter does fall from the Sons and Daughters of Chorster's hand, so too may spring yet be found within some hearts. While you say many would find my statement of humanity amiss, you will also find humanity has shown my kind no other insight. As for the curse befalling one of my own kind, I suggest burying the curse before the clouds follow." Turning from her he looked to Rhy, his eyes unchanging, his tone level as it was through the conversation with Alannara, " I was summoned for treaty Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear, is this all that is brought to the table?"
Ah, so she'd been right. Winter did signify war and the Sons and Daughters of Chorster must mean humanity. She nodded to his words, having learned over the course of the past few years, that humanity had indeed brought war upon the lands, under the line of Chorster. It made sense. She also had to agree to his assessment of Lea's daughter, yet also knew that the death of the babe meant the death of the Elf. Had she not thought of that herself, if it proved that the child was a danger to their goals and their forces. She remained silent when Feraemar turned to speak to Rhy, who replied in the Elven tongue. "Aye Lord Feraemar Aleanghymn, it is. For she and her peoples fight against Chorster and his ilk. They have aided our people, as well as the Dwarves, Gnomes and Halflings, who now begin to look upon them with favor. I have served with them for nigh a year as Chorster's forces press ever against our wood, to watch, to learn. We believe that it is to our benefit that they be heard." Rhy's lips twitched. "They have even gained aid from those of us from across the sea, though they know it not yet."
Turning to Alannara once more he nodded the slightest of bows with the same hand gesture of the fist and the leaf, " Lady General Alannara Lasheea I hope for the sake of humanity that spring indeed does blossom in the hearts of those you know. The Sylvan whom you speak of however should have the frosts of winter set upon them, for winter will set within the soul and heart, and neither hope, prayer nor medicine will ever thaw such a frost." Turning completely toward Rhy he raised an arm straight towards the sky, his fist formed fully as he stared into the man's eyes. Without a shifting of his seating one of the vangaurd at the enterance of the clearing slowly rode forward at a canter, his eyes moving to each of those present in the clearing as he shifted, exposing a saddlebag before almost completely masked. Fera lowered his arm with the begining motions of the man, stopping his deep gray mount near Alannara and right next to Fera he waited motionless but still at ready. Fera moved to the mount's saddlebag, slipping the strap of the leather he folded back the overhang. Reaching down he adjusted his sword only slightly, the blade now hanging a bit further from his grip but still at ready. Speaking in elven as he reached within the bag he gave no portraiance of his feelings, " Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear, you have done your people little justice in the parlayance of a treaty for them with but another kingdom , a kingdom of the Children of Chorster no less, to show for it's wares. You choose a secluded area, away from your kingdom which tells me you have not the power nor the permission of your council to seek such a treaty. " Pulling from the saddle bag a few wrapped ration packs of bread and fruit, along with a wine skin of tea he tossed them at the feet of Rhy without looking. Turning now away the gaurdsman motioned with his thighs the horse begining to move slowly backwards, to avoid people and to keep watch on those around. Fera moved towards Rhy and the parcels, his eyes unchanged still as he moved towards the man, " I replace your rations but how will you replace my time?" his words in elven again, however they held no music or melody, only a firm level tone one would use to command a dog.
"The name, Lord Aleanghymn, is Nara and I am no lady, but the get of the common folk in the land of Perdania. Spring and hope is the will of the common people of the land, milord, though not of those who would prey upon them, nor upon your peoples," she told him in quiet seriousness. "What hope, prayer or medicine would you give to those who are touched by winds of Chorster?" She watched him quietly as he called one of his men over to them, dropping her empathic shields just a little, trying to sense what she could not understand. From Feraemar, she sensed only the cold of winter winds, his emotions held firmly in check, though from the others she sensed degrees of disgust for her being within their wood. To be expected. She also sensed a growing despair in Rhy as Feraeman took the packet from the rider's saddlebag and tossed it casually at Rhys feet, speaking in Elven the entire time. Rhy never looked at the package, his face never letting on to the feelings that he was containing, his expression remaining calm as glass. "I negotiate not for my people, nor for those from across the sea. Those that are from there have sent a human to negotiate for them, sending one who has already lost family to Chorster to see the lie of the land. They see the danger, if we cannot. Who is to stop Chorster from taking all that is here, then all of Avarill? Across the salten sea, they still live together, in peace, human and non. It could be here again, except for Chorster. As for this site being chosen, it was thought best that it be beyond our lands, lest a treaty not be agreed upon, thus would she not know where our people's lay. In good faith, she arrived and rode through our woods, eyes bound so that she could not see. Will you not at least speak with her and listen, Great Lord?"
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 8:33:42 GMT
« Reply #3 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:35pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stopping he stared at the man, he noted his exterior though within those eyes he also saw the very same thing his father had spoken of many times before, he saw a wish that would be grabbed for if this man thought there was a chance. Turning he looked to each and every person brought into the clearing, his words ringing out loudly in common knowing every child was at least taught that in the sylvan nations, " Tell me, how many of you has Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear spoken to about those who dwell beyond the seas? How many have longed for hope for so long that the winters shed upon our lands might be brought to spring and summer eternal?" Turning his eyes to Rhy once more though his voice not dropping in level he continued, " And how many of you believe those of the lands beyond the sea even care about what has been layed upon our lands by the hand of the Children of Chorster and the tainted beasts he has wrote upon us? These lands were ours, before The Great Dividing, these lands were prosperous and green in our summer of time beyond memory. We are Sylvan plain and true. Show me one Sylvan who believe spring could ever blossom in the heart of one of the Children, or believe that the lands across the sea will lift a finger without us first holding firm to our lands and bringing down Chorster and his children ourself, and I will stay and listen. But show me one sylvan who believes you have followed a fool and I will allow winter to spill upon that fool and his blood will nourish this glade. Speak those who followed Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear, speak for his life."
Nara listened to Feraemar as he spoke out in a tongue she could understand and before any of the Elven men and women who had come with them and led her here could speak out, she stepped forward, dropping her shields and letting her empathic abilities free, allowing all who stood within the clearing to feel what she felt, including her personal loathing for the 'gift' that she had been born with and had come late upon her. "I have spoken to such a one and he has told me of the lands across the sea. His people have already sent a force of men to us at our fortress, Lord Aleanghymn. Fereio has spoken to me of this land of his, where humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes and halfling live in peace, in harmony." She looked around at all of the elves who stood in the clearing, seeming to catch the eye of each of them as she continued to speak. "Evil came into our land and sundered the peace that was held within its palm. With it came hatred and despair, greed and anguish. My shield-mate and I saw the horrors and gathered those of like mind to fight, though we are as guilty in our way of being blind until the evil before us took a turn to harm those we cared for." She turned and looked at Feraemar, her eyes locking challengingly to his. "Yet, see it we did, though it might have been too late. And in seeing, we began to question the teachings of line Chorster, that all not human were the evil in our world. One by one have some come to us, even as one by one our own come to us. Until not long ago one came from across the sea. He said he was here to see what had come to pass, to learn of those of his kin who had also been sent to do the same before him. It is by his word and the word of the force sent to us by ship that we believe his words. We, who's lives are short in the span of your people, can learn to have faith and trust and begin to do more than WISH for spring. Can you and yours do otherwise?" she asked, letting the sincerity of her emotions wash over them all. "These lands, greening under a spring and summer sun once were yours," she said softening her voice, though it carried still. "Would you not wish for them to be green and prospering once more under a gentle hand?"
Turning as she addressed him he listened, his eyes watching her's as he felt the emotions flow into his being, though he knew them as foreign he knew their source as well. At the enterance in and in the woods remained a little more still then usual, one of them tensing slightly with a bow string unsettled by the feel of what he could only figure a spell. Staring he listened in silence as she had done him the same courtosy, soft brown eyes searching her own for any tick or sign that may portray this as a lie, even with the empathy layed upon them he knew it could be but a spell. She'd had long enough for such acts, had plenty of preparation time, but something about her face spoke otherwise. Something in her tone and words spoke more, as did her actions in being brought here. Looking to her armor once more then to her eyes he spoke, his words held in a tone for her ears and for Rhy's, " You already spoke that perhaps spring may hold true in the hearts of some Humans General Nara, but all I have seen is the possibility of truth within your words and actions. Can you vouch safe for that of your ilk? Surely one who speaks so adamantly of your following can, as I can say without the least of hesitation that if you speak falsely I will cut you down here and now." Resting his hand upon his hilt he watched her, he held a certain degree of disgust for her kind it was true, for the scent that wafted upon the breeze of the clearing. Taking a step closer he watched her eyes more fully, for in nature the first to look away was the most submitted and in society the first to look away also held things to hide.
Alannara sensed the movement and reactions to her sending through her senses, knowing that she had to continue letting those about her feel what she felt, though she detested this gift that had been thrust upon her. She didn't think that there were those who would consider it a spell, considering how rarely she allowed her shields to lower, except to those close to her. "Aye," she told Feraemar, her tone as quiet as his, keeping her eyes locked upon his, never flinching from his gaze nor looking away, her stance erect and proud. "I speak for those of my following, for my shield-mate, for those who also command with me. We desire peace, we desire spring, yet do we know that it will not come with Chorster at the reins. With this in mind, we gather our forces and we fight. Not for power, not for gain, but for peace." She thought of those who had died, not only the soldiers on the field but also the folk that tended the land and pain flickered in the depths of her eyes, though she kept her eyes on his, feeling each of those deaths as if she'd been the cause. She thought of those that had been twisted, or had died in the twisting, of all those lost. "I fight for spring," were her last words, nearly a whisper.
Nodding slowly, Feraemar, gave the slightest of smiles, a smile that did indeed touch those emotionless eyes for a moment. the emotion held for the briefest of instances but he knew it would be seen, he knew that perhaps she would feel that they had gained in the kingdoms of the Sylvan, for in a small way they had, through her words and actions, they gained a chance. Continuing to watch her he spoke, his words were but the merest of whispers for her and her alone, " You may stop this spell now General Nara, your point has been made and I believe your words may indeed be true. Your words have saved Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear, be sure to let him know in your own leisure." Stepping back he bowed slightly, not a bow of submission but a bow simply to end that check of will. Raising his voice he spoke to all once more, his eyes however not leaving Alannara's, " Lord Rhy-aer Teasen'atear, we will take our meal here, your guest and vanguard will then accompany us, your guest will not be blindfolded for this trip however." Moving as if nothing more would be said or questioned he moved toward his horse, and with three shrill whistles he called the call of a robin and a cardinal, his call was almost exact other then the volume of the call itself signaling those on guard to come in and show themselves, to take feast but to be wary.
Palishol stayed in the woods despite her protest to remain at her Prince's side. She was the protector and should be allowed, but he claimed he would need her skill more where she was, hidden in the shadows of the forest behind him where she could see all and yet remain hidden. As the notes were blown for them to come from hiding, she nodded to the others and watched them enter the clearing. She remained in the shadows. If this was a trick... She rested one hand on her short sword and the other on the reins in case she had to bolt forward. Palishol Vyraelis was the protector of the one who spoke for them all. It was her place to see to it winter did not befall him. As her long autumn colored hair let loose a couple tendrils from its tight coils to wisp around her face, she whispered to the wind, "Vyraes cos, shol. Ci tael tes sai talia." (Protect him, wind. He means much to many.)
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 8:35:45 GMT
« Reply #4 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:36pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She watched as the others moved away and partook of the meal in the clearing as she sat ever vigilant and bit her lip absently in a gesture Ferae would have recognized as nervousness.
Spell? What spell? Her brow furrowed in confusion, though as soon as he smiled, she felt tense muscle relax and she shielded once more, so that her empathic abilities were once again behind them. She nodded at his words, though she knew she would not tell Rhy she had saved his life. Not when she felt she had really done nothing more than speak the truth, for her, for him and for all the ones who fought for the rebel forces. As he bowed to her, she let a smile touch her lips and she nodded her head to him, both in courtesy and respect. As he spoke of them having their meal there and then traveling once more, she wondered where he would be leading them, though she was thankful that she would not be blindfolded. She chuckled a bit ruefully. Not that it would help, at this stage, considering she knew not the trail to get here. If asked how to get to the fortress, she would have to do a reckoning only. Shrugging that thought off, knowing herself to be wood worldly enough, she moved to where her horse was tethered and reaching into the saddlebags, removed her own provisions, watching as Feraemar's people entered the clearing. This was a beginning. A hopeful one, but the outcome was still not sure. Taking out the jerked meat she had and then untying the water skin from her saddle horn, she found a log upon which to sit and resolutely began her meal, her eyes ever watchful and curious.
Noting the solitude and the way Alannara went to get her own rations. Turning toward where the vanguard emerged from the woods he nodded to them as they came in to sup near the stream and the others. Motioning with a hand to Alannara, he wisped his hand in a vague manner of irritation saying soft enough to not be heard by anyone in particular, "Sar air byr os shae, aelael ais caes cyr air vys, shi eisi byr. (That is not our way, even if her host is poor, we are not.)" Moving slowly to his own small saddle bag, the three guard at the entrance having rested out there, one partaking of rations, the other two moving out to patrol the clearing's surroundings. Taking out two tin cups he removed a rather large wine skin of raspberry skin and strawberry tea. Dangling that at his hip he moved toward where Rhy began to make his own meal with his men, his words again in the tone of authority, " Aelael oli os si Tolael myr byr poli eilyli shael si eisi ei ker.(Even one of the Children should not dine alone when they are a guest.)" Moving slowly away he shot back a single final look, before making his way toward Alannara, dropping his parcel as he stayed upwind he spoke and a almost soothing tone, "Put your rations away, while Lord Teasen'atear has forgotten our ways I have not. No guest within our lands should ever need to bring anything but spring within their hearts General Nara."
Pali watched the others fan out around the perimeter and then finally settle down to eat. Taking a piece of ration from her hipside pouch, she took a small bite of the watercress reed and watched the others. Her hazel eyes, dancing in the tree filtered light, seemed to take in everything. From the guard walking about and talking in quiet whispers, to her own Prince seeing to it that everyone and everything was as it should be. Someone should have taken that position. He deserved to be the one seated and relaxing instead of seeing to the comfort of the others.
She finished the dainty morsel and licked her lips. The cress was a simple ration that traveled well. Like a wild onion, it held water within its stalk and it slacked thirst while giving the stomach something to digest and feel feel full with at the same time. She lifted her hand to her throat and adjusted the vine and leaf clasp on her cloak. It matched that of the others but her cloak differed in color and composition. Instead of a cloak that showed station or rank, hers was the twisted mottled color of the woods in the season they mimicked. She could stand in the dappled shadows and blend in. And once outside the tree covering, it would provide its own version of camouflage and blend her into most backgrounds leaving her a vague memory to most passers bys minds, and an invisible entity in most other cases. Settling her hand back in her lap, her lip found its way back between her teeth. Once they headed for the Keep, she would skirt the clearing and follow. Not till the signal was given that all was safe within the walls would she finally emerge, make herself known and stand at his side and back for what she prayed would not be an overly long stay. Things here sat uneasily with her. How could these beings not realize was had passed or what was coming.
Though one did... the one with the gift of mind powers. She hated it, Pali could tell, but it was strong in her. Perhaps stronger than she knew. It wasn't well trained, almost a common habit to the bearer. Maybe Pali would change that. Everyone deserved a good defense... and Alannara wasn't aware just HOW powerful her defense could be.
Having settled herself on the log, Alannar continued to quietly watch, seeing Feraemar move to one of the horses for his own food after talking to his men. She smiled, recalling a number of times when she, herself, had done the same when she had still been out riding patrols with their men, their numbers too few for even those in charge to do every day things. She sighed, thinking on those days, though they had been hard, with nostalgia. Now, most of her life was spent in planning and sending others out to do what she wished she could, worrying about how many would die, how many would be wounded. For all of those in charge at Stone Talon, there was no such thing as 'acceptable losses'. She watched, chewing the jerked meat slowly and carefully, as Feraemar talked to Rhy, then turned and moved in her direction. As he dropped the parcel and spoke, she smiled up at him and shook her head. "I don't think he has forgotten your ways, Lord Aleanghym, so much as having had the need to be wary for so long." She laughed softly, her eyes twinkling. "After all, we are the "Sons and Daughters of Chorster", are we not?" she asked lightly. "Though, I thank you for your concern for me." With those words, she set the jerked meat aside, her expression merry. "So, now I shall play the good guest while you play the good host?"
Shaking his head as he maticulously unwrapped some, for lack of a better term, pita bread like mixture with fruits and nuts intermingled he spoke, " No General Nara, I fear you are lacking in knowledge in this regaurd." Looking up to her he continued, " you see, he brought you here as a showing of faith for your kind and cause, though his summons stated a treaty with his own kingdom. You are a guest within these lands, more precisely you are His guest.. "
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:12:59 GMT
« Reply #5 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:40pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nodding to the Guardsman who brought her some rations he poured the tea, offering her one of the simple wooden cups. As the guard moved off he continued, " In being his guest he should be looking out for your needs and comfort as is our way, instead he withdraws, making it seem in the eyes of the less logical or observant, that he does not truely believe what he implies by bringing you here. Do you understand?" His tone was matter of fact as he spoke the explanation, his attention once more upon his food as he broke a piece of the hard bread from it's thin loaf and started chewing. Within her packets would be much the same as his, also dried fruits of an assorted variety within a packet and the watercrest shoots Pali seemed to favor over most the others.
Pali bit her lip hard enough to draw blood. A moment ago Ferea seemed upset enough to slay the man who had chosen to come in peace. But suddenly a woman steps forward and all is forgiven? She bit back the growl in her throat. She knew he hated the Chorster's Children as much as she did. So why in all the seasons before and to come, was he now sitting and talking to her like he was a love sopped youngin? She sighed and closed her eyes a moment. He was a Prince, a diplomat and surely had his reasons. Opening her eyes she worried her lip and tasted the copper of blood on her tongue. Raising a lither porcelain hand, she wiped the blood and looked at the drop on her finger. “Surely they bleed as well.” She looked up. As the woman spoke, she wondered why it seemed different all of a sudden. <c> LieAnia Kristi: Then it dawned on her. The woman was not flirting, nor trying anything untowards to Fereamar. Maybe she was as she had seemed at first... a woman merely wondering why things were as they were. She was strong enough in her demeaner that Palishol was SURE she wasn't a prisoner or 'gift' meant to seal the treaty. She would have to wait till this moonrise or sun come the next day to ask her Prince why he found the woman so interesting. There had to be something more to her that Pali hadn't seen... besides her empathy ability. She pulled another reed from her pouch and chewed on it to save her now slightly swollen lip from more punishment.
Taking a sip of the drink that had been poured for her while he spoke, she nodded. "I believe I understand. However, look you, for all that I am a guest, perhaps he felt that I would be uncomfortable placed in such a situation." She gave a rueful sigh. "I fear, with all that has gone on in the lands beyond your wood, I have not had the chance to know Rhy or his people well, nor has he had as much a chance to know and understand our ways." She glanced over to where Rhys and his men sat, eating their own meal. "I fear that old hatreds and fears still have a way of interfering with things the way they should be. It is even hard for me to imagine our peoples living in peace, after the many years of war. Yet," she paused thoughtfully. "Speaking to Fereio and his land, it sounds to be a wondrous thing." She shook her head, bringing her wandering thoughts back to where they belonged. "I can see, with your explanation of your ways, how others might misconstrue what Rhy might feel was a courtesy to me." She chuckled throatily. "For all the seeming discourtesy, I know that Rhy believes, else I'd not be here." Opening the packet and seeing the meal, she begins by nibbling on the dried fruit, then tries the watercress, enjoying the flavor. Better by far than the dry meat she'd been eating. "There is much to be learned between our peoples. Much that was lost because of the Chorster line."
Taking a slight sip of how own tea he watched the ripples of the liquid settle, the almost redish deep color, the camomile washing over his muscles as he sat there in thought. Within an instant these thoughts slid away, his cup being set upon the ground along with his meal as alert eyes searched the woods to the east. Many of the vangaurd also searched that way with eyes, setting their own meals down. The noise they heard was a soft rustling, though it didn't belong in a place scented with both steed and a human, no animal would come so close. Standing slowly he spoke in a whisper, "Stay here, stay down, no questions, no sounds." Turning to the other band of Rhy's he said the same, only in elven, his eyes returning quickly to the woods of the east. Hand signals were fast as he directed the vangaurd, his fingers only moving but an instant but the wave of movement towards the woods was fanned out, careful and silent. He crept over the small brook, his boots barely causing a ripple within the waters as he nonchalantly slid his fingers over and around his hilt. He know Pali would see the signals, as did all the others, the few that remained behind circles around Rhy's people and Nara, not in arrest but as guards. Slipping into the woods himself he disappeared quickly. Sniffing the air even Rhy's people would hear now the rustle, and even scent the begining scents of some Tainted.
She had relaxed the grip on her sword just a bit when she heard it. She tilted her head slightly and closed her eyes a moment. There is was again. A rustling of leaves barely perceptible to mere human ears. Opening her eyes she glanced towards the clearing. A moment later a soft smile lit her eyes and tugged the corners of her mouth. Her Lord had heard it and was already signaling the others to move and surround those in the clearing for protection. She slipped soft booted feet from the stirrups of her saddle and rocked forward as her heels kicked back. The tops of her feet rested behind her as she then rocked silently backwards till a small hop finished the movement and left her crouched on her mount. She looked around as Fereamar entered the trees and patted the horse's neck as she rose and hopped up onto the nearest tree branch. Taking to the tops of the trees, she headed in the direction she had heard the noise... Tainted.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:13:48 GMT
« Reply #6 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:40pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- She got to the top most branches in order to move more swiftly and quietly. The sword at her side so tight to her leg it never got caught of slowed her down. She should have grabbed the quiver holding bow and arrows, but it was too late now. Ferea had disappeared momentarily from sight and she didn't like that. As she saw what had made the noise, her throat nearly closed up. There were perhaps half a dozen of the mage twisted creatures and two had managed to flank Fereamar and the two guards who had followed them. Ferea saw the four before him, she hoped anyway, but the two that had gotten past him were heading for the clearing and the unsuspecting others. She let off a short whistle of four cardinal calls. She knew Ferea would know that meant he had four foes to deal with. Then she called to the clearing with two sharp whip o will calls. They would know two foes came their way. The two heading for the clearing were outnumbered, but Ferea was outnumbered and needed her. She drew her sword and began her leaps bringing her closer and closer to the backside of the creatures as she leapt each time.
Nara took in Feraemar's tension and watched as he set his drink and food down, her eyes taking in the fact that his men reacted in the same manner. A sound caught her ear, though it was not the rustling of the leaves that was heard by Feraemar or his group. Her eyes moved to her horse, now pulling restively on his reins tethered to a tree, not in fear, but with ears pricked forward, neck crested and front hooves lightly dancing in place. Setting her own meal down, she watched as Feraemar moved off, some of his group coming in and surrounding her and Rhy's group, though their attention remained outward, their actions speaking more of being guards for them than against them. One said something to Rhy in their fluid language and she watched as his men pulled out their bows and nocked arrows into the strings. That was all she needed to know. Whatever it was, both their actions and that of her battle trained stead gave her warning and she prayed that her next actions would not be misconstruded.
Swiftly rising to her feet, she put her hands over her right shoulder, withdrawing the two-handed sword from its sheath and raced over to her steed, not to mount, but to pull loose his reins, for her mount was trained to defend her were she on the ground or on his back. She had only that much time before hell seemed to burst into the clearing, moving too swiftly to count. Drawing far enough away from her mount to prevent him being injured by her blade, she braced herself as one of the twisted, for that was all it could be, seemed to see her movements and come in her direction.
Already arrows flew from the bows of Rhy's group, the shafts burying deep into the flesh of some before the twisted were too close to fight by bow. She'd nearly forgotten how swift the creatures could be as her eyes narrowed, watching the half-wolven beast come towards her. She heard her mount scream just as the beast neared enough to leap towards her. Without thought, simply reacting, Nara dodged, her sword moving at the diagonal, the blade's edge slashing a deep cut across the chest of the beast, which howled in pain, darted aside and began to circle her warily. Snarls of pain, anger and hatred came from the beast as Nara turned with him, a feral smile on her lips, her narrowed eyes gleaming with the thrill of battle.
OutterWood came to mind as he saw the four tainted before him, his eyes looking to each, they had both wolf and bear in this group, it was a tracking party, not the simple bumbling band he'd hoped for. His sword was draw, in the lower hand fashion, the claws of the oncoming bear man swung at him, causing him to dart beneath the sweep and slice for beneath it's arm, scoreing a razor's slice with his curved blade to one of it's arteries, it would fall in minutes if he could just keep it from hitting him. His guards were having similar problems, one seeming to be baiting the wolf make as he made little incisions upon their ears and chest, drawing them from the fray as they'd done in Outterwood, the other Bearmake was taken on by the remaining guard, this was to be a learning experience for this was this warders first time with a tainted, his eyes were only slightly wide as training kicked in and he hacked off a claw.
The screams of the beasts and the whisps of blades were all the noise made from the group, this was no time for panic or shouts, it was a time for winter and frost, death would fall on these woods like winter herself and if Fera had anything to do with it, it wouldn't be a sylvan or child of chorster just yet.
The pathway was barred quickly by horses, the mounts themselves kicking and pawing at the tainted, the warders however were not so much fighting as they were distracting, blades whisked through the air, small explosions of popper bombs singed hair and again the screams of the tained could be heard as the unit of three worked like hornets to contain them. One tainted was downed with a deft kick of a horse, his jaw becoming one with it's throat, though the death throes of a mount could be heard throughout the woods as it was quickly brought down by two of a wolfmake. Arrows flew from within the woods, both towards the gate and towards the oncoming wave, this was also an act of containment for while the Tainted had the minds of men still, they still lacked much of the experience and forethought needed to recognize baiting of this magnitude.
The guards surrounding Alannara and her group nodded to one another as the whispers of 'tainted' and 'twisted' fell from each ones lips. As the sharp whip o will cry came from the tree tops, one of them spoke for all the others to hear. “Two come from the east.” Just as one broke cover and charged the young woman, one of the guards spun to help her thinking her unprepared. Seeing the swords and the war steed at her back, he smiled. She was no helpless Child of Chorster. This one was worthy of standing beside. As her swing drew blood, his did as well and he helped her as slice after slice followed the roars of pain and within moments it fell dead at their feet. His fist went to his heart as his head nodded a slight bit to acknowledge her blood stained face and stature. “You fight well. But can you fight more?” The words were a serious question as he did not want her winded or becoming a liability while the others fought. As the other guards, Rhy's and their own, dispatched the second twisted creature among them, another growl was heard and he spun his heard to see three more guards fighting near the clearing entrance and realized more were coming down from the north. “We are not finished yet. May the winter fall here and now and leave us standing in victory in her drifts when it ends.” He spoke the blessing war wish and nodded to the woman and the others and watched where she went next. They were guests in the land of his Prince and he would protect her as he had been bidden.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:14:36 GMT
« Reply #7 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:40pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pali landed on the ground a few feet from where Ferea and the others were fighting. Seeing Ferea nearly done with the one he was slicing to bits, she turned to see the most seasoned of their group baiting two at once as he drew crimson ribbons from one then the other, darting between them and teasing them with the death they would soon wholly embrace. The newest of their group, oddly enough also following the Prince, had his back to a tree and was barely holding his own. As she ran towards Ferea she sliced at the heel tendon of the one bearing down on the unseasoned elf. As it fell backwards, the man went whole hearted at it and was soon standing over another dead Tainted. She moved to Ferea's side and whispered softly under her breath as they stood at the side of the seasoned warrior to help dispatch the last two, Ferea's earlier prey having fallen as she arrived, “Sholaes thar, Tys... aesos sal shi syl.” (Winter falls early, Mlord... earlier than we thought). As the other two lay dead she tilted her head and took off towards the clearing murmuring, though she knew they were already aware, “There are more.” Her blood stained features lending to the look of a berserker from a child's nightmare come to life. As she cleared the trees she tore the clasp from her cloak and ran on Ferea's heels towards his next chosen fray as the cloak fluttered lifeless to the ground. She only hoped it's falling on her heels wasn't an omen of other things of her own to fall this winter.
Alannara heard the sound of hooves against flesh as her gelding kicked at the one that approached behind it, then a squeal of rage as the gelding wheeled and began to lash at the twisted with slashing forefeet and teeth, the beast soon nothing but a red and bloodied pulp beneath his feet. He raised his head, whistling a challenge to all as Nara kept her eyes on the beast before her. As one of Feraemar's men joined her in the fray, they both began to hack and slash at the beast, their cuts going deep, then with a twist of her blade, it bit into the side of his neck, just as the elf's sword slipped between the ribs, piercing its heart. It was questionable which of the two had killed the beast, yet it did not matter, so long as it was down. At the elf's question, her eyes still gleaming with the heat of battle, she gave him a feral grin, just as she heard the sounds of more coming from the North. Slipping the clasp of her cloak as she raced towards the sound of the oncoming Twisted, not even noticing it fluttering to the ground.
The sound of her horse following barely impinged on her mind as she focused on one of the beasts, a big bear of a creature and she headed straight towards it, her mind already calculating her moves. As she neared it, she heard it roar as it raised it's club, prepared to smash down on the back of one of Feramar's guards, currently busy fighting off one of the wolven beasts. With a sharp, shrill battle cry to draw the bear twisted's attention, she raced under the beasts arm, felt the passing of the wind as it's arm came down and sliced along the downward moving wrist, causing it to scream out in pain as the muscles and tendons were severed and the club fell from it's now useless hand. Still, it had another and with it, reached for her, it's claws attempting to rake her as she darted lightly away, only to feel the scoring of the claws of a wolf along her side. She snarled herself, knowing herself unhurt as the leather armor protected her and she spun, turning the sword to slice to the side, opening the belly of the wolven twisted that had dared to try and take her from the side.
Now there was no thoughts. Battle training took over as she nimbly dodged and darted, ignoring the feel of spurting blood hitting her, in fact, unaware of it, her mind focused on target, slice, dance and dart, the heat of battle coursing through her veins, not even aware when Rhy and his men cast aside bows and drew swords and joined the fray, four wolves down with arrows in chest or throat.
The first of the wolves fell as his own beast did, the bear's blood had left it weakened and finally dead, the wolf however lost more then blood, it lost it's head to the winters sharp justice. Fera Smirked slightly, his words holding the chill of his blade as he lashed at the backbone of the other wolf, crippling and destroying the beast in deft blows, " O kyr mysti ol ti.( you got some on me.)"
The spray of his own slice being splashed at the one he spoke to like a child in a pool, Fera's face covered in gore and blood, his jacket as well. Turning now towards the clearing he signaled for the two guards to leave him for the clearing, his own path as well as Pali's finding it's homeing towards the north and the greatest stench of the tainted. As they charged through the woods towards more impending Tainted he spoke, his words were swift and low for Pali, "Myr Ai thar saji si Pandraes os Tysaes sai caes jhal, shor caes mael shys ail sai varaer os si tyl, bai jhaer, sar shor shi aelyl sosti sai shodi sor thor thys os cysti. (Should I fall take the Daughter of Chorster to her lands, bid her send word in two phases of the moon, no less, that will be enough time to wipe this filth from our home.)" before a reply could fall from her lips he lunged kicking off from a nearby tree towards a bearmake, his word almost yelled as his blade and body collided with the beast who had fell General Nara, " Roll!" His teeth bared in a rictus clench as his sword was punged deep into the gut of the beast, his left arm grappleing the beast about it's side as momentum and grip twisted and toppled the tainted bearmake from it's strike upon her.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:15:21 GMT
« Reply #8 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:42pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- They charged into the fray as blood sprayed, the creatures cried in terror, pain and fear and the sound of steel on bone rang thru the trees around them. As he spoke and lunged, her own echo of words fell though she knew not if he would hear. “Ais o thar, Ferea... sael air air shaelari Ai cali thalael eilaedia.” (If you fall, Ferea... then it is because I have fallen already.) Just as he lunged and bound off the tree, his words came to her ears and instinct carried her to the ground to roll away as he leapt over her to attack a beast that had sliced to the woman. She rolled to her feet and sliced at another downward thrusting attack from another bearlike creature. She managed to take notice that the Child of Chorster was not feint nor screaming as most women in battle seemed to do. Instead she fought with no regard for the blood sprayed on her clean tunic or the clear, flawless skin of her cheeks. Pali grinned as she dodged a clumsy blow and threw her body full force into the bear she was fighting. The glint in Alannara's eyes was the gleam of battle rage. She had been trained to fight and did it well. The steed at her back keeping her from being snuck up upon as the other guards from both sides stood side by side against the common foe.
The bear fell backwards as she lunged and gripped her body and the two rolled slightly away and stopped against a tree. She kicked with all her might and had to draw her boot dagger to finish the beast. As she straddled its dead body and caught her breath, she failed to notice one of its strikes had sliced her near her left hip between her breeches and the leather padding under her tunic top. She rose, wiped her blade on its fur and shoved it back in her boot before turning to see what other creature was near enough to fall to her steel.
The one at Ala's side had to leap back as the steed rose up to knock back a creature almost resembling a great hunting cat tried to come at the woman's back. Two of her own guard fell to it as Shadishol cried a warning and grinned as his lord leapt at the bear and toppled it. He helped Ala steady herself and the three of them dispatched the bear before he nodded grinning to her once more and turned to see what other creatures remained and needed to join their brothers in the deep sleep. His own blood ran down his unprotected arms where scratches and claws marks had gotten hold. And a single claw stuck in his thigh where in its death throws one of the creatures had taken a slash at him. Like all other wounds, it was unnoticed as well and lost in the blood that now covered all of them.
When she heard Feraemar's voice order her to roll, Alannar didn't question his words, simply dove and rolled to one side, coming back to her feet, her eyes seeking out another foe, her hair, coming unbound, curling and twining around her features, giving her a look nearly as wild as the creatures that they were fighting. She'd known that Lord Chorster had increased his 'production' of the twisted, but until this moment, had not realized that the creatures had reached so far into the elven wood. They had expected it to happen. That was for later as her eyes sought out and found another of the twisted, circling warily behind the party. With her eyes tracking it, she ignored all else, not even aware when others protected her back as she did theirs, her focus only on the foe before her, knowing her steed guarded her, if no other. Ignoring everything, including the admiring glances given her by Shadishol, she in turn stalked the stalking beast, rushing at it and startling it, as focused as it was upon its intended prey. This was an easy kill, simply because of its inattention, Nara's first slice hamstringing the beast, the next and returning swing taking off it's head, though not before the beast was able to mark her, though she ignored the pain, as she ignored all others wounds she'd received before. As long as they were not mortal, she cared not, so long as she did not weaken and become unable to fight. Seeking eyes again searched and saw another of the bear twisted attempting to corner one of the elves against a tree and she raced towards it, not even noticing that her breath was now more like pants, sweat streaming along face and neck. As she ran, she lifted an arm, wiping some from her forehead, not even realizing or caring that she was smearing blood along it. Just as the bear twisted reached out as if to grab the warrior, she managed to near it enough to slice along its side, drawing its attention from its intended victim. Which elf, she knew not, they were all so covered in gore she could not be sure if they were Feraemar's men or Rhy's, nor did it matter.
In the roll, Fera he managed to free himself before complete collapse of the massive bear, his next swing true as it carried between the bodies and straight up towards the center of it's jaws and through it's skull. His Jacket was tatterd leaving bear the flesh which dripped blood from his back in four straight lines, the claws of the bear having gained purchase before it's final death. Raising swiftly sword still in hand he scanned only briefly the battlefield before noting a large wolfish beast, his strides carrying him swiftly towards it.
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:16:08 GMT
« Reply #9 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:42pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rolling as he came over the back of the hunched over beast he slashed towards the back of it's neck, a crippling blow, the guard attacking it having already gutted it made it almost pointless. As he came to his feet he saw another motion of a warder as he staggered back from a slash from a large warthog ask looking thing weilding a broad axe of rough hewn steel, the blood coated every inch of Fera, save his eyes, as he jumped straight into the air, his blade wisping through the air as swiftly his sword cleaved through the warder's neck decapitating him entirely, the body not even realizing it died but for the briefest of seconds as the lights dimmed from his eyes, and the blood poured out from the razor thin line of his neck. Collapsing the body fell to the ground, the head rolling a few feet away. As Fera came down he thrust his own sword backwards into the gut of the warthog beast, his free hand grasping the fallen sword of the warder her felled as he spun now dual wielding at the warthog, his blade comeing up not to block a strike which came, bit to deflect it barely off to his side, knowing Pali would be near he yelled, " Toli!" as he began to tear into the beast once more.
Pali watched as Ferea decapitated one of the warders and whispered a short prayer knowing as he hollered the word marking his kill as his own that the battle was nearly over. Her brother Shadi was helping the woman as she slew her final beast and a quick glance to the field showed the ones near the entrance had been dispatched as well. She stood nearby to be sure the bear did not get the best of her Lord and wondered what had brought the tainted ones so close to the Keep. They never wandered this close or this deep into the elven woods. It didn't sit well... something was wrong.
Shadi watched as Ala headed straight for the bear as if there was no more fear left in any bone of her being. He ducked the hooves of the steed as it reared back as his lunge and headed for her side. Soon they stood side by side, steel to steel slicing at the great creature like two wolves downing a great water beast. They worked well enough together that anyone looking on would think they had watched one another's backs before. One would step forward to draw the beast's attention as the other swung and struck hard and deep. As that blow caught the bear's attention, the other person would then swing. Soon the bear's own axe was barely rising above the level of its hip as the weariness and loss of blood began to take its toll. As it was about to fall, Shadi took a final swipe and left the killing blow for the woman. She deserved it, he thought. As the bear fell and he saw the heavy ragged breathing of the female, he smiled and moved to her side to help ease her to a nearby felled tree to sit if she would let him.
Pali watched the fighting come to an end and silence fall on the clearing as everyone held their breath waiting to see if anything more would come from the shadows of the trees. As she noticed all was still, she nodded to the Prince and strode off to check on the others. At the entrance to the clearing she saw one dead and two guards breathing. Without hesitation she sliced swift and clean thru the neck of one of the guards before turning and heading back with the other guard limping but keeping up on her heels. She looked around to the other guards, theirs and Rhy's and began to stride towards one of the guards that had been at Ala's back earlier. Her blade rose as eyes of steel glowed and she aimed for his throat as Ferea had done earlier and she had just now done. There was no pity, only the look of someone doing what needed to be done.
Alannara's mind registered the elf that had been beside her fighting before, one probably ordered to guard her, though she didn't react, simply moved to his movements, coordinating her attacks to counter his, both of them drawing the attention of the twisted from the other with each strike, bleeding the thing until finally, her sword slipped between ribs and found its heart. There was no finesse in this last fight for now fatigue had begun to tell, as well as the loss of blood from wounds she hadn't felt in the heat of battle. As the beast fell, she stood there panting, her eyes searching the clearing, her body relaxing only as she saw that there were no more twisted bent upon attacking them. When Shadi offered to assist her to a seat, she shook her head, though she gave him a weary smile, instead, wiping the worst of the blood off of her blade before sheathing it. As soon as the sword was in its sheath, she turned to see to her horse and caught the sight of Pali moving towards one of Rhys archers, though sorely wounded, still standing and drawing her sword arm back as if to strike at him. Without thought, without any question, she stepped towards them, her voice going to parade ground level as she snarled out "HOLD!", her strides taking her ever closer to the elven woman, her eyes flashing now in anger, unconcerned about anything except saving the archer's life. "What goes here?" she snapped out, still making her way towards them, all fatigue forgotten for the nonce.
To definitely grip readers it will be stated the battle was intense, Fera was wounded a few times in the conflict with light gashes and abrasions, but in the end the big hog mother fucker died with two blades stuck in it's chest, only one remaining there as he drew his own from it. Turning slowly his arms sagged only slightly from weariness, his face a jumble of gray matter, bodily fluids and blood, his hair matted to the point of seeming a hood and his clothes holding more red color then the off white of before. Moving with deft determination he walked to where he heard the command to hold, his eyes not totally focusing upon that of the women who fought, his words holding no tone of emotion as he switched hands with his blade, shifting it to a once more down bladed grip. Moving around Pali his eyes fell to Nara, his knees bending in a swift stoop as be plunged his blade into the chest of the man, giving it a quick jerking twist, snapping ribs and tearing tissue beyond compare as he'd pierced the heart, the man dieing in that instant. " Don't cast orders in a land you hold no power."
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:17:04 GMT
« Reply #10 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:42pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pali froze in midswing as the woman's scream caught her attention. Thinking for a moment another Tainted was among them, she looked up. Seeing the woman decend on her, she hesitated just long enough that it was Fereamar's steel who took the archer's life. As her own blade went to a more relaxed pose at her side she murmured for his ears as he passed, “Thysoli ti.” (Forgive me) She had not done the duty she should have. She would pay for it later.
Looking to the woman, her own eyes still battle red rimmed silver, she spoke low and steady. “They were wounded beyond what a healer would have been able to heal. Those wounded such can turn to Tainted. We will not allow them to turn in the moonlight and lead others here to slay us for our timidness.” She watched the words sink in. They believed that mortal woundings from the Tainted could turn a mere elf or human into a copy of that which had harmed them. They would come back and with a vengence for being left in such a state. It had been practice for a long time now to slay those who could not easily rise and take care of their own wounds. Even if the wounds were simple enough to heal or bones able to be set. They were not taking the chance. “Someone led them here to begin with. This is too far beyond their lands.” She shivered then as she remembered an odd feeling during the battle.
Looking around she frowned and began to move between the packs and belongings of those who had come with Rhy and Ala. Without a care, she sheathed her sword and added insult to injury as her bloody hands began rummaging thru one saddle bag to another without care for whose belongings were being strewn around the bloody grass.
Nara's eyes flashed in fury as she watched Rhy's man drop, dead before he hit the ground, her expression grim, her lips tight. She looked from Pali to Feraemar to Rhys, and listened to Pali's words, shaking her head. "Then you have caused needless deaths this day and every day that you have slain one who has been wounded by your tainted." Spinning on her heel, she strode to where Feraemar walked towards the brook and as soon as he paused, she stepped in front of him, drawing her own sword from her sheath, though not to wield it. Gazing at the blade, she then looked up at the Elven Lord and holding the hilt, blade down, towards him. "You may as well slay me, for if Adamire Chorster has kept an eye on me, it is my travels here that he has followed and the Twisted we have slain were sent to make sure I did not reach my goal. But know this, even should I die, they will keep coming and coming, for they are Chorster's new weapon, a weapon of his mages, the twisting of humans and non-humans with animals to create your tainted. They cannot turn your people by any means, for they no longer have the knowledge, the skill nor the means." She gave a harsh laugh. "Every warrior you have killed, thinking to prevent such a change, has been one you have killed for Chorster." She stood there, head tossed back proudly, eyes defiant, holding her own sword out to him by the hilt and awaiting his decision.
Pali opened her hand and small amulet was laying there, now slightly coated in the blood of her own and her prey. Looking to Alannara, she spoke once more. “Mi caern byrol os air. Si maer os si Salaer air byr ol caes. Eil mi mael sia.” (She knew nothing of it. The smell of the Tainted is not on her. And she speaks true.) She had chosen not to speak in the language of the visitors because with perhaps the exception of the woman before her, the rest of them did not deserve the curtesies of them anymore in her eyes.
She looked back at Ferea and awaited his reaction. If she had her way, she would slay all but this one. There was no reason this glen should have been offaled the it had been. And to learn that perhaps they had been wrong in slaying the others made her stomach turn in its pit and she dared not think beyond the moment for fear of worrying that there were other things they were wrong about.
Kneeling by the brook, Fera began taking deliberate care in washing his blade, the roses upon his hilt seeming to lose their color upon the breeze of the waters, the leaves of blood fadeing back to steel silver, vine being eaten away as the willow whisp of blood streamed down the brooks current. He scrubbed the blood as he listened from his hands, paying no glance or heed to the glade proffered to him. Looking down and checking his sheath for blood within he found it acceptable and resheathed his blade. Finally after his blade was cared for would he look up to Alannara and even acknowledge she stood there with her sword drawn.
Standing slowly he reached out taking hold of the hilt of her blade with care, raising and lowering it slightly he found the blade was off only slightly in it's balance and weight, though he'd found some liked the heavier blade to hilt ratio versus the leveled of fluidity he had found with his own. Twisting it only slightly in his hand he found the blade guards and catches solidly constructed thought crude in his opinion to the blades of his people and that which a dignitary should wield. Looking first to Pali, he nodded acknowledging her words, reaching out he took hold of the trinket, the little amulet which caused all this bloodshed. Shaking his head only slightly he turned his eyes to Nara once more, " Nara, This is that which brought this here, for the tainted have never ventured past the skirtings of the forest until now. Pali is a adept, she can feel the flow of magics from it, it is a tracking token, simular to that which we found in outterWood only a new moon back."
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Post by Admin on Nov 9, 2014 9:18:07 GMT
« Reply #11 on: Apr 26th, 2008, 11:42pm »
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twirling the blade slightly in his fingers he offered her the hilt of her blade back, " We had seen tainted before these, nearly human and nearly elven aside from their beastly muzzles or horns many held features too close to that of Human to be taken lightly. These we always found at night, Daylight always wrought that which we slew here today. If what you say is true I still don't see what we have done is ill or wrong, their wounds were extensive and their suffering great, we did them a service in ending such suffering. Is it not more cruel to allow one to suffer for hours and die, then it is to kill and kinsman you love so he might rest in peace." Turning from them both now, he once more knelt, his eyes closing as he held his fist once more in the leaf and fist fashion of his bow, his demeanor was the same throughout his monolog as it had been in times before, his movements in the brook almost religious in their regiment as he bowed swiftly, plunging his face into the water with no hands to brace himself.
Raising his head from the water once more he spoke, soft and slow, " Your blade is fine but needs balanced, blood grooving and etching would help, as would a counterweight of a few twigs more." He spoke these words before plunging his face into the waters once more, the blood of battle and sweat wisping from his skin and hair.
Nara watched him, her eyes narrowing as he took the blade and listened as Pali spoke to him in their language, so like the brook, to her ears, that flowed beside them, fluid and sweet. Still, she didn't take her eyes from Feraemar, awaiting his decision, even as he took the bloodied amulet from the Elven woman. She listened as he spoke, wondering who among the men that item had belonged to. And why. There was no way that Adamire could have reached any of the elves. Nor his mages. The hatred that had been instilled in most of humanity under the rule of the Chorster line, no non-human would have been left...whole. "You have seen Lord Chorster's work. What else he has contrived in his vile magics, I know not. He began these twisted nigh five years ago and is constantly striving to...improve," she said with a soft snarl. "It was with the mercernaries that he began, for he desires and unthinking and ever obeying force." She didn't speak of those innocents she and Adrian had seen prior to the twisting of human and animal, their minds wiped of all memory, the beginning of the experiments. "I understand the need to give mercy on the field, Lord Aleanghymn, but warriors also heal. Not all wounds that appear to be fatal, are. Our healers strive on the field and within our keep to save as many as we can. Perhaps it is because we know that Lord Chorster outnumbers us 100 to 1 that we have learned to prize life. Each life lost is a loss of a weapon with which we strive to bring peace." Taking the sword from him, her lips twitched as he spoke of what her sword needed. "Perhaps, milord, but should I chance to weaken a sword to gain such things? Perhaps I should speak to the armorer at the keep and have one new made instead." Nodding her head to both of them, she added, "If you will excuse me. My blade and I need washing. I will find a place of some solitude."
Palishol watched at the woman walked off and watched her Lord kneeling at the bank at her feet. She moved to crouch behind him, just down from where he washed the blood from his face. Her own blood stained hand reached out to caress the broken crystal surface of the water. She touched it not so much to rinse her own hand, but to feel the slightly warmed reddish water of his washings sluice over her own skin. She spoke in their own tongue, though there was no one else nearby to hear. “She is strong. I somehow doubt even she is aware of the strength and power she has within her. A blood groove on her blade may feed that energy. I will speak to the smith about having one appropriately fashioned for her.” She absently rambled as she finally rinsed her hands off, choosing to not dunk her own : head where he was already washing. To rinse her hands in the same bloody water as his was an honor, to defile it by weakening the crimson stream with her own battle blood would have been insult to his rank and prowess on the battlefield. She thought of the woman's words and sighed. “How can she say they treasure life when they would let a man live a crippled life trapped within a body that once knew battle but now could know nothing but pain and twisted limbs?” She shook her head and rocked back onto her heels. She ran her hand down the skin of his arm alongside one of the more obvious and deep gashes. “You should get that bound. I will see to the cleaning of the glen and be close behind. I would recommend keeping the guards of our guest with me if you wish the lady and lord to follow you to the Keep. But take most of the Warders with you. I do not trust any of them till I know which brought the Tainted among us. And I cannot tell that till they are all cleaned of recent blood and I can sniff out the scent of magic on them.” She rose and rested a hand on his shoulder before whispering. “Ai eis kar sholaes por byr saji o... tia thol...” (I am glad winter did not take you... my friend...)
The washing done, cleansing of the grove done, and the tainted burnt. Riding on as escort only to the lands of General Nara, they rode as far as the borders of the forest, his words were simple, yet spoke of hope for both races, " Send word and we will come, I am willing to give my name in the face of the acts you've shown. However word mustn't come for at least a cycle of the moon, for things must be prepared accordingly General Nara. Safe journey and may spring guide your path"
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